Dodge City times. [volume] (Dodge City, Kan.) 1876-1892, 1887-12-15
and there was cry of Jack! Jack!"

\
Now jack Howells was an impul.
sive youth. and he had temper.
Not word the doctor essayed to
speak fell upon his ears. Putting his
sister away with one hand. with the
other he sent a blow at Adams which
felled him to the floor. It was
not fatal; it was not hurtful. it merely
took the doctor. who was on his feet in
an instant, unawares. and before the
hot-headcd youth could strike again.
Miss Rhoda had managed to make him
hear something which arrested his at
tention anil quieted him. Then fol-
lowed mutual explanations and con-
fusion of tongues. and begging of
pardons and an amicable understand
ing and a hearty laugh all around.
Miss Howells finished the repast with
good appetite and better heart Adams
was very content now the RESPONSE
bility was off his hands. and hadn' t
cursed Paul Howard under his breath
since Jack arrived. It was really very
jolly. 1t wouldn' be very bad to take
supper that way every night in the
year. with an addition to the menu.
"A duccd pretty girl!' he said more
than once TO himself DR.. Adams was,
indeed. susceptible. This girl had y
fortune; she would be wife to be
proud of. He already felt sense of
possession. He had been her sole pro-
tector for half hour, when they had.
in truth. been shut out from all the
world. Her feet were simply perfect.
He had thought the same of blue
eyed girl lie had taken 10 the symphony
concert the week before, and had half
decided to marry her.
They chat,ed till midnight. when
the sofa was wheeled near the fire and
the fur rugs were thrown down before
it. Miss Khoda buried her brown
head in the sofa pillow and the men
laid themselves out on the skins. and
all three slept rs peacefully as many a
person in his own bed after his Christ
mas eve dinner.
With the daylight came the sun;
many hands had cleared the snow from
the pavements, and it was decided to
go to the Vendome for breakfast.
Paul Howard was tritie surprised
when three cards came to his room as
he was about to descend to the dining
room on Christmas morning with tho
request that he would give these early
Corners the pleasure of his company ut
breakfast; and a good many people in
| the Vendeme brcakfast-rOom wonder
ed if this was 4 party of Paul How
ards giving when he came in laugh
ing heartily ut what seemed to be very
funny-so funny that all three of
his companions were trying to
fell it to him at the same time.
Every body recognized the fashion,
able Dr.. Adams. and the Vendome
bellies knew the athletic, handsome
Harvard senior; but the pretty girl
with the laughing brown eyes was
puzzle; and how this company of four
Glanced to take their Chris tmas break
fast together nobody guessed at all.
1t was all very unexpected and very
merry.
The story was kept a secret except
from Miss H)wclrs aunt, who arrived
from Europe in que time, and opened
her Beacon street house and took her
orphaned niece TO live with her. Now
Mrs. Howclls would have been very
much more Mortified than she was had
the me-. concerned been other than
they were. This good woman had
successfully married off three daugh-
tiers. He and was we'll in ut the bust
ness. Girls were born to be married.
With RhoIa's fortune and pretty face
there would be suffers enough, and
she had decided 10 have hand in the
matter herself BY curious coinci-
dence she had set her heart while
still in Europe upon Paul Howard
for this niece, who was to fall
to her care for the coming win
ter. She had known his parents we'll.
An eminent jurist who sat frequently
ut her table had never tired of talking
of his talents and ability. rs displayed
before him in court He was, indeed.
desirable parii. She invited him tc
the first dinner she gave. And he
came to others. and finally he brought
his violin. anal Rhoda and he played
duets. DR.. Adams came often. too.
Rhoda Howclls' first season in Boston
was a very successful one.
1t was again stormy. snowy day.
To Dr.: Adams rs he sat in his Office il
recalled the Christmas eve, and he de.
cidcd 10 brave the storm and call on
Mrs. Howells. Nobody else would &c
out on such IN afternoon. H, found.
however. when he entered the draw
ing-rOom, that some one beside him.
self had dared the elements. Rhoda
was just about serving five o'clock tea
to Paul Howard. H., thought the girl
more beautiful than ever as she stood
there in her white plush tea gown.
There was new light in
her great brown eyes. There was
a prouder poise of her lovely brown
head. He had always felt, since the
night she slept before his fire, that he
had claim upon her. If she was SO
enchanting in her brown tailor-madc
gown, with her walking boots upon
his fender, what would she be IL that !
delicious garment. with its hng.
Straight lines and clinging fold, snd
those tiny slippers? If Paul would
only go he would ask her that very
day to sit before his fire always. He |
would build it in the most beautiful |
house that could be built in Boston. |